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First Test

Book 1 of the Protector of the Small Quartet

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First Test

Written by: Tamora Pierce
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
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About this listen

Kel will not allow this first test to be her last. Her adventure begins in the New York Times bestselling series from the fantasy author who is a legend herself: TAMORA PIERCE.

Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl who dares to take advantage of a new rule in Tortall—one that allows females to train for knighthood. After years in the Yamani Islands, she knows that women can be warriors, and now that she’s returned home, Kel is determined to achieve her goal. She believes she is ready for the traditional hazing and grueling schedule of a page. But standing in Kel’s way is Lord Wyldon. The training master is dead set against girls becoming knights. He says she must pass a one-year trial that no male page has ever had to endure. It’s just one more way to separate Kel from her fellow trainees. But she is not to be underestimated. She will fight to succeed, even when the test is unfair.

More timely than ever, the Protector of the Small series is Anti-Bullying 101 while also touching on issues of bravery, friendship, and dealing humanely with refugees against a backdrop of an action-packed fantasy adventure.

"Tamora Pierce's books shaped me not only as a young writer but also as a young woman. She is a pillar, an icon, and an inspiration. Cracking open one of her marvelous novels always feels like coming home."
SARAH J. MAAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Tamora Pierce didn't just blaze a trail. Her heroines cut a swath through the fantasy world with wit, strength, and savvy. Her stories still lead the vanguard today. Pierce is the real lioness, and we're all just running to keep pace."
LEIGH BARDUGO, #1 New York Times bestselling author©1999 Tamora Pierce; (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group
Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Primary Education Science Fiction & Fantasy Fiction
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After the adventures of The Protector of the Small—otherwise called Lady Knight Keledry mindelanit would be nice to hear more about Kel’s p the of skill.

The protector of the small

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I LOVE anything written by Tamora Pierce!! I enjoyed reading this book and listening to it as well. Book #2 on Audible here I come!! :)

Tamora Pierce is an amazing writer!!

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A good start to what I already know is a wonderful quartet of books. I really like Kel; her determination and sense of justice are attributes that are inspiring for a young person. First test is not the most engaging of the books, but it does give a good introduction to the characters. I love the little cameos by characters we already know and love from other Tortall books. The narration is not the best, the voice the narrator did for Kel was annoying. And the voices she gave to alot of the male characters were definitely a CHOICE...I hope it's improved in subsequent books.

A good start

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Perhaps my favourite of Tamora Pierce's series'. Strong female characters, decent narration. Good beginning to a great series.
#Audible1

Girl-centric coming of age story.

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I have finished my first adventure with Kel and I enjoyed it. i have always enjoyed school adventures and Tammy has once more added other elements I love - knights, magic, and royalty.

I enjoyed this one very much.

Journeying with Kel

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